Personal Art Blog

Sharing the lessons I teach at the Artist Guild and the personal discoveries in my art.

Thursday, March 10, 2016

All MINE!




All MINE!
6x6in oil on canvas panel SOLD

Artist Note.
I may prefer to paint nests but
I have loads of bird pics
and sketches.
I find them totally fascinating
and can watch them for hours,
Anyone out there relate?

I find crows are great to paint 
and somewhat easier too
because of their strong
shape and color. 
This guy is scurrying 
away with his treasure
but, look who is watching him...
Yep, he didn't have it for long!

I have been trying to work 
on a painting of the
American Goldfinch 
I see at my feeders,
but the painting got 
looking too much 
like a greeting card.
Not what I wanted so I
kept scraping it off.
Got a great abstract 
out of it though!
I am going to keep trying.

All my 
American Goldfinch
disappeared overnight.
last weekend - it seems too soon.
(they only winter here)
Wouldn't you know it ...
they left the very day
after I paid big bucks for
a nice quality bag of
 Nyger seed.
sigh.

.

27 comments:

  1. Oh Julie, what a little gem :) I think you know that I can relate to your fascination with all things avian! I had to look up the American Goldfinch...sweet little birds, where do they all disappear to?

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    1. We do share a fascination with avian stuff don't we? The AG goes north and I know for sure they go as far as Canada. Helene (below) says so.
      What are you working on?

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  2. A nice little crow narrative! I do like watching birds though I don't do it often enough. There is so much going on with them that we don't see or can only guess about. And crows do have a good shape don't they? Rather large and solid. Studying your use of color and proportion. Lots to learn about:)
    Hope you had a good week.
    Libby

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    1. Hi Libby - I see you have not posted this week. I just left a comment. Your piece was so true to your sketch I thought it was the same one. Well done indeed!
      Yes - crows have good shapes. Solid and yet graceful in a strong way.

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  3. I love this little painting, Julie. Birds are something we all relate to. I can look out my window and find this same scene.

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    1. Yes - bird feeders are a common denominator in Britain as well as America. I get so much pleasure out of watching them.
      I loved your painting of the Colorado flowers. Such beautiful colors.


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  4. Love this painting and the great shapes and colors! Nice catching up with your beautiful work. Best to you!

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    1. Good to know you like it - thanks Carol.
      I return the complement with your new piece of the two cows. What a wonderful and happy painting.

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  5. The GoldFinches come up here to SW Va-Blue Ridge Mtns and Julie put your Nyger seed in the freezer 'til they come back. Love your paintings. Sue

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    1. What a handy hint. Bless you for passing it on.
      I visited your blog and love the series of three paintings ending up with the abstract.

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  6. How beautiful are these crows? I also love watching the birds. We feed the birds off the deck and the little woodpecker is my favorite!

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    1. I have a couple of woodpeckers at the feeder, and two dead flickers in the freezer I want to paint. Amazing patterns on their feathers.
      Thanks for the visit Sherry.

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  7. Love the dramatic contrast, the story, and vibrant color!

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    1. Thanks Bruce - talk about an story...love your post about the trip to Cuba.
      Thank you for the link to Michele Byrne's work. I agree with you - great artist. I enjoyed her posts from Cuba too.

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  8. What a fabulous painting. The form and solidity you've given these stunning birds is wonderful. No greeting card here! I'm with you, Julie. I love painting crows, as well as their gorgeous corvid relative, the blue jay. In the summer, your dazzling American Goldfinches come here to Muskoka, Ontario, Canada, and they fill every perch on our Nyjer feeders -- they like black sunflower seeds too. Since we've had such an abnormally mild winter, I actually saw the first of the little black and yellow beauties two days ago! The crows have been busy for the last couple of weeks as our snow melts away. Lovely painting!

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    1. I am going to keep this wonderful comment. Thank you Helene. I am delighted to know when mine disappeared they appeared to you. I like the thought!
      Your beautiful still life with the shells is still in my mind. beautiful.
      I hope the opening went well.

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  9. A perfect title! The middle crow looks stunned at the boldness of the feathered thief! Our birds are coming back in great numbers about now. So good to hear them in the mornings and throughout the day! Your bold color combination enhances the strong, substantial feel of the crows.

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    1. Thanks so much Carol. Glad you like it. The grass is green at the moment but pretty soon it will be turning golden. I worked on a couple of smaller birds today and they were on a paved courtyard where I had my coffee.
      Are you still working on Dissipation edge work?

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  10. You have an amazing gift to transform what we take forgranted into a lovely painting. I see crows all the time and never thought how beautiful they are. I will start paying more attention. Thanking you for sharing.

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    1. You will enjoy seeing their shapes and how the sun shines on their feathers.
      I enjoyed your white house painting. The color harmony is lovely.

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  11. Dear Julie super painting. Love your birds as much as your nests. Sorry about your finches. Amazing how so many birds have different migration schedules. Ours stay most of the year here. Well happy painting friend- Hugs!

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    1. Yes - I can imagine the goldfinch could stay where you live year round. Helene said they end up in Canada too. Hers appeared a few days after mine left so I like to think they went to to her place - another artist's house.
      Enjoy your weekend. The clocks go forward - yea...lighter nights...but lets have a boo for the darker mornings!

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  12. crazy bird lady here :D not a twitcher because I don't have the time for it tho lol

    LOVE your crows :D great suggestion of feathers

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    1. I am grinning - pleased knowing you like them. You are the expert at these types of things.
      I liked seeing your pastel of New Zealand. Such a simple design with strong colors. makes an impact! Hope you are feeling better.

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    2. not an expert by a long shot, but thank you :)

      I find muy pastel work is very simple, focu on the colours more than anything :)

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  13. Nice shapes to the crows! They always seem to be fighting over something...sort of like the seagulls. :) Too bad the finches left before you could give them some treats.

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  14. I can totally relate to your love of birdwatching, ever since a little girl it was a favorite pastime of mine . I spent many of my afternoons in the wood with binoculars silently watching the movements of these adorable creatures. Love your painting and the funny scene :-))

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I love that you are taking the time to comment and thank you for it. I am sure other readers will enjoy them too. If you cannot comment through this format then email me at juliefordoliver@gmail.com
Cheers,
Julie